Ruff, Thomas | Substrat 21 III, 2003-2019 — available on Composition Gallery

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Substrat 21 III (2003–2019) by Thomas Ruff is a c-print measuring 32 × 45.8 cm, signed and numbered in an edition of 300. Part of Ruff’s Substrat series, the work transforms digitally manipulated manga and anime imagery into abstract, flowing color fields. Swirls of neon green, violet, red, yellow, and blue blur together, dissolving recognizable forms into pure optical sensation. The result is both psychedelic and meditative, questioning the boundaries between digital culture, abstraction, and photography. Ruff’s Substrat works embody his ongoing exploration of perception, image manipulation, and the materiality of the photographic medium.

Thomas Ruff (Germany, 1958) is a contemporary photographer known for his conceptual approach and exploration of the photographic medium. A member of the Düsseldorf School, he has produced diverse series, including large-scale portraits, architectural studies, and digitally manipulated images. Ruff's work challenges perceptions of reality and representation in photography.

Thomas Ruff

Substrat 21 III, 2003-2019

Name: Substrat 21 III, 2003-2019
SKU: 16182
Price: 1750.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

C-Print

C-PrintA C-type print, also known as a chromogenic print, is a photographic print made from a color negative or slide. The print is created on chromogenic paper, which contains three emulsion layers, each sensitized to a different primary color. After exposure, the paper is processed in a series of chemical baths, where each layer reacts to the chemicals to produce the final image. C-type prints are known for their rich color depth and are widely used in fine art and commercial photography.

Edition

Edition of 300

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●Inventory 16182

Limited Edition Print

Deemed the ‘master of edited and reimagined images’, Thomas Ruff is a photographer renowned for his use of technological advancements as a means of bringing new meaning and visual possibilities to his field. Press++ is among the photographer’s most notable works and is comprised of numerous images that had been published in American newspapers and magazines between the 1920’s and 1970’s, later sourced by Ruff on eBay - in producing the works, he scanned the front and back of the images and digitally combined them, with consideration taken of touch-ups, scribbles and date stamps. Among Ruff’s wider oeuvre are expressionless portraits, blurred pornography, domestic interiors and internet-sourced JPEGs. Heavily inspired by his teachers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Ruff learned from their expertise in straight photography; Joel Meyerowitz and Stephen Shore are among his other early influences.

Artwork by Eduardo Chillida

What is abstract art?

Abstract art uses form, shape, line, and color to create a visual experience without attempting to represent external reality. The composition exists independently of the world's visual references, focusing on expressing ideas and emotions through non-representational means.

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Thomas Ruff

Substrat 21 III, 2003-2019

32 x 45.8 cm

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Thomas Ruff